Aboriginal digger's son prepared to take justice fight to Canberra

The son of an Aboriginal veteran who was denied Soldier Settlement after serving in both world wars is taking his fight for compensation to Canberra. John Lovett says he will protest at Lovett Tower, a building named in the family's honour.

So much so that a Department of Veterans Affairs building has been named 'Lovett Tower' in its honour.

Despite this, Gunditjmara elder John Lovett says the Minister of Veterans Affairs, Warren Snowdon, has ignored requests to discuss compensation for his father, a veteran of both world wars.

Herbert Stahle Lovett served as a machine gunner on the Western Front during the First World War and then signed up again for the Second World War.

John Lovett says after returning from service his father was denied land under a Soldier Settlement Scheme administered by the Victorian Government, despite meeting all of the selection criteria.

He watched on as his traditional homeland around Lake Condah was divided and distributed to white soldiers.

"There's been two world wars. I'm prepared to fight the third one, however I have to fight it to get what I think is morally right for my father," Mr Lovett says.

"I will lobby in Canberra, if [Mr Snowdon] still refuses to grant me an interview, then I will ask for the removal of the name 'Lovett' from the Lovett Tower due to the disrespect that I feel I will be shown if he says no," Mr Lovett says.

A spokesperson for the minister said while the Soldier Settlement Scheme was financed via Commonwealth Government loans, State Governments were responsible for processing applications.

Mr Snowdon declined to be interviewed but a statement from his office said a meeting with Mr Lovett has now been arranged.